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Let me show you how to cook bacon in the microwave so that it gets nice and crispy! Oven bacon and air fryer bacon are great, but if you’re short on time and don’t need too much bacon at once, give microwave bacon a try. It really works, and all you need is a microwave-safe plate!
Why You’ll Love Microwave Bacon
- Super crispy, perfect bacon
- Fast prep time — takes just a few minutes!
- No special equipment or bacon cookers
- Easy cleanup — no mess or skillet to wash!
- Great for small batches
How To Cook Bacon In The Microwave
This section shows the best way to make bacon in the microwave, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Arrange. Line a large microwavable plate or dish with 3 layers of paper towels. This is important for absorbing the bacon grease and getting the bacon crispy! Place strips of bacon on top of the paper towels in a single layer, so they aren’t overlapping. Top the bacon with 3 more layers of paper towels.
- Microwave. The cooking time will vary slightly, depending on how thick the slices are and your microwave’s wattage. See below for specific times.
Microwave Bacon Time Chart
How long to microwave bacon will vary depending on your microwave power and the thickness of your bacon, but it can range from 40-80 seconds per slice. Thick-cut bacon will take longer than regular or thin bacon.
Below is an approximate time chart for a 1000W microwave.
| Bacon Thickness | Time Per Slice | Minutes For 6 Slices |
|---|---|---|
| Average | 60 seconds | 5-6 minutes |
| Thin | 40 seconds | 3-5 minutes |
| Thick Cut | 80 seconds | 7-9 minutes |
Tips For The Best Microwave Bacon
- Use uniform bacon slices. This ensures they cook at the same rate.
- Rotate if necessary. If your microwave doesn’t have a turntable, rotate the plate a few times during the cooking process.
- Check the bacon in the microwave occasionally. Start checking on your bacon about 1 minute before the estimated time, then add more time in 30-second intervals until it’s done to your liking.
- Let the bacon rest. Like most methods, the bacon will crisp up more as it cools from hot to warm. Uncover and let it rest on the plate for a couple of minutes after it’s done, to crisp up more.
- You can microwave bacon in layers to make more. If you want to microwave more than 6 slices of bacon, you can create additional layers. Simply arrange more slices of bacon over the top layer of paper towels, then top with more paper towels. Just make sure you have 3 layers of paper towels on the top and bottom, and between the layers of bacon, to absorb all the bacon fat.
TIP: It’s best to cook a MAXIMUM of 3 layers of bacon in the microwave.
More than that, and it will start to cook unevenly. Also keep in mind that you will need to increase the cook time as you add more layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about microwaving bacon? Here’s everything you need to know! Ask in the comments below if you have another question I didn’t answer.
- Will I get crispy bacon in the microwave? Yes, you can get crispy bacon in the microwave. Follow the tips above to ensure they end up crispy instead of soggy.
- Can you microwave frozen bacon? Microwaving frozen bacon is not recommended as it won’t cook evenly.
- Can you defrost bacon in the microwave? Yes, you can remove frozen bacon from the package and thaw in the microwave first on the defrost setting, and then cook it. Don’t try to cook it right from frozen.
- Can you microwave turkey bacon? Yes, you can microwave turkey bacon. The cooking time might be slightly less as it’s leaner, so check it frequently.
- Can you reheat bacon in the microwave? Yes, you can reheat bacon between a few layers of paper towels to get it crispy again.
Serving Ideas
Besides the obvious use — eating! — here some other ways to enjoy bacon:
- Breakfast – Enjoy it with eggs or pancakes.
- Appetizers – Add it to appetizer recipes like deviled eggs with bacon, cream cheese jalapeno poppers, and Caprese salad skewers.
- Entrees – Make main recipes like bacon cheeseburger soup, cheesy bacon ranch chicken, and pizza bowls.
- Sides – Try Southern fried cabbage, add it to sweet kale salad, or sprinkle it over cabbage steaks.
Microwave Bacon
Microwave Bacon (Crispy & Easy!)
Learn how to cook bacon in the microwave — that actually gets CRISPY! Use this foolproof method for easy microwave bacon in minutes.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Line a large plate (at least the same diameter as the bacon length) with 3 layers of paper towels.
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Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the paper towels, without overlapping. Top the bacon with 3 more layers of paper towels.
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Microwave on High for 5-6 minutes for average thickness bacon, 3-5 minutes for thinner pieces, or 7-9 minutes for thick cut, until done to your liking. (Start checking at the lower end of the time ranges or even a minute before.)
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 bacon slice
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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20 Comments
Barbara
0First thing I’ve always done is when I remove the bacon from the package, I cut it in half. Then I just put a double layer of paper towels on a plate and place the smaller pieces of bacon on that and a single layer of paper towel on top. When I notice the paper towels are getting wet with grease, I put the bacon on fresh dry paper towels and proceed to cook it. Sometimes I replace the paper 3-4 times because I want my bacon well done and mega crispy.
Barbara
0I tried the oven method several times and could never achieve the mega crispy texture I wanted. So I went back to microwaving my bacon. The thing I’ve learned is that after a few minutes and the paper towels get wet with grease, I put the bacon on fresh paper towels and keep cooking it. I do this every few minutes with fresh/dry paper towels until my bacon is super crispy. You gotta change out the paper towels a few times.
Stephanie
0Okay, maybe I’m just stupid, but I’d like a little clarification concerning cooking extra layers at one time. How much more time do I need to add for each additional layer? Is it just multiples of the original cooking time for one layer (1 layer = 6 mins, 3 layers = 18 minutes)? Thanks for the help!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Stephanie, You would not need to add that much time. Adding just an extra 2-3 minutes should be good.
GUNJAN C Dudani
0This is a very helpful post. It eases out the work and makes it quick. Great tips and tricks.
AISilva
0I’ve never tried microwaving bacon before, but I love this trick for when I’m in a rush. Also exciting that I can get it crispy as well. Thank you!
Marisa F. Stewart
0This is so handy I’ve already printed it out three times. I’ve needed this for a long time. I love crispy bacon and it’s always a hit and miss thing with me. I tried your directions for the 1 slice and the 6 and it came out perfectly. Thank you.
Cathleen
0Wait.. why did I not know you could do this??? Thanks so much for this! It was super helpful and answered all questions I had 🙂
Liz
0I had no idea how much easier this would be than making it on the stove!! Thank you!
Colleen
0I’ve never tried to microwave bacon because I was afraid it wouldn’t be crispy. Now that I know it works great! Thank you!
Anna
0This is such an incredible shortcut! I would never ever think of using microwave to cook bacon, but it works! It worked so well, I honestly think this is going to be my go-to from now on!
Sarah Baumeister
0Super helpful kitchen hack to have in my back pocket. Thanks for the details so I know just what to do.
Sharon
0I had no idea how easy making bacon in the microwave was. Great for quick BLTs or for breakfast.
Leslie
0I seriously, currently have scars on my arm from frying bacon! I didn’t realize I could microwave it! This is genius!
Kristyn
0We use the microwave all the time to cook bacon! It’s the best!! So much quicker & just as good!
Amanda Dixon
0Thanks for all the great tips! Microwaving gave the bacon great texture, and it was so quick and easy.
Natalie
0Best way to cook bacon!! Less mess & still so crispy & delicious!
Amy L Huntley
0So many great tips on how to cook bacon in the microwave! The bacon turned out just the way I like it!
Jere Cassidy
0Last time I microwaved bacon I burnt it beyond belief. Glad to have your instructions for the no-burn method.
Bernice
0Great!! This contained the mess to one little appliance.